Our lease ends tomorrow.
The kayak is strapped to the top of the CRV, the bikes are on the trailer-hitch rack, and the rest of our worldly goods are loaded in the back.
We have once again downsized. Everything not transportable has been sold, given away, or tossed in the dumpster. It was much easier this time, both from experience and many less years of collecting before the purge.
Our first destination is North Carolina. We have rented a cabin for the month of September in Minnesott Beach. We hope to stay a few miles ahead of the storm which seems to be following the same path as us.
Four more destinations over the next four months to follow.
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Sunday, June 5, 2016
Shenandoah valley
We are renting a tiny house in the Shenandoah valley. The house is comfortable, which is a good thing since rain has driven us indoors several times.
During a dry spell yesterday we drove the Skyline Drive, a scenic meandering road with lots of pull-offs to admire the view. After a picnic lunch we found a parking area adjacent to the Appalachian Trail and took a short hike. If I had a bucket list that could have been a check mark.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Fly away
We are leaving tomorrow to spend a week in a cabin in the Smoky Mountains. We will attend Tristan's graduation from National Defense University the following week. He has earned a Master's in International Relations.
It is a good time to vacate the beach. It is yellow fly season. For those unaquainted, the yellow fly is like the horse fly, only smarter, smaller, stealthy, with a much worse bite.
If you ascribe to the theory that God made beer so man would be happy, then the yellow fly was made to remind man to drink it indoors.
Beach living is wonderful - except the first two weeks in June.
Mountain vista pictures coming soon!
It is a good time to vacate the beach. It is yellow fly season. For those unaquainted, the yellow fly is like the horse fly, only smarter, smaller, stealthy, with a much worse bite.
If you ascribe to the theory that God made beer so man would be happy, then the yellow fly was made to remind man to drink it indoors.
Beach living is wonderful - except the first two weeks in June.
Mountain vista pictures coming soon!
Sunday, May 8, 2016
Happy Mother's Day
I have always been a bit slow. 35 years into this marriage I am still learning the same lesson. The oft forgotten lesson is De Anne's freedom to go where and when she wants (see "Free Range Wife" elsewhere on this blog).
Last year De Anne wanted a kayak so I got a big tandem kayak that we could paddle around together. For the sake of argument let us say I like to go kayaking once a week, but De Anne might want to kayak every day.... right after her 18 mile bike ride and before her 6 mile beach walk. You can see, this is an impediment to her freedom if my presence is required to launch a kayak that is beyond her ability to portage to the water.
Which brings us to Mother's Day 2016 and her gift which she splashed (solo) today:
Travel update: Tristan and Kat are planning an October wedding. We will gladly delay our trip to the land down under.
Last year De Anne wanted a kayak so I got a big tandem kayak that we could paddle around together. For the sake of argument let us say I like to go kayaking once a week, but De Anne might want to kayak every day.... right after her 18 mile bike ride and before her 6 mile beach walk. You can see, this is an impediment to her freedom if my presence is required to launch a kayak that is beyond her ability to portage to the water.
Which brings us to Mother's Day 2016 and her gift which she splashed (solo) today:
Travel update: Tristan and Kat are planning an October wedding. We will gladly delay our trip to the land down under.
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Cape San Blas
Finishing their winter vacation in Florida, Terry and Brenda stopped off for a few days with us before returning to Canada.
Saturday was perfect so a field trip to Cape San Blas felt like a necessity. We packed a picnic and headed out on the short, scenic drive.
De Anne and Terry consulted the local map then led us off on a hike into scrub pine and cabbage palm wilds of the Cape. The walk along St. Joseph Bay was so pleasant I dispensed with my customary whining about forced marches, and because the peninsula is only a quarter-mile wide with the bay on one side and the Gulf on the other I could hardly claim we would get lost.
Returning to the parking lot we selected a table in the shade overlooking the bay to enjoy our beer and sandwiches.
De Anne leading the way:
Terry and Brenda:
Alligator resting while we enjoyed lunch. He could have a beer if he had come over:
Afternoon on the Gulf side:
Unauthorized picture of De Anne and Brenda in front of the surf danger flag:
Saturday was perfect so a field trip to Cape San Blas felt like a necessity. We packed a picnic and headed out on the short, scenic drive.
De Anne and Terry consulted the local map then led us off on a hike into scrub pine and cabbage palm wilds of the Cape. The walk along St. Joseph Bay was so pleasant I dispensed with my customary whining about forced marches, and because the peninsula is only a quarter-mile wide with the bay on one side and the Gulf on the other I could hardly claim we would get lost.
Returning to the parking lot we selected a table in the shade overlooking the bay to enjoy our beer and sandwiches.
De Anne leading the way:
Thursday, March 10, 2016
Matryoshka vacation
Matryoshka dolls are the Russian nesting dolls. Our current situation reminded me of those dolls.
Our life on the beach is a permanent vacation, then we visited Terry and Brenda in Sarasota. In the middle of our vacation in Sarasota we flew to Washington DC to visit Tristan and meet his girlfriend, Kat. One vacation inside another, inside another.
After a day on the beach at Long Boat Key, the four of us followed that with a cruise of Sarasota Bay the next day. On Friday, a flight to Washington DC to spend the weekend, then returning to Sarasota for a few more days of fun with Brenda and Terry.
Leaving the dock.
The Sarasota anchorage.
Leaving the dock.
Brenda and Terry aboard.
Touring the Smithsonian Indian Museum with Kat and Tristan.
Sunday, January 17, 2016
Oyster cook-off
Fair skies and warm weather lured us to Apalachicola for their annual oyster cook-off that benefited the volunteer fire department. The timing was good in that not only was the weather cooperating, but most of the snowbirds had arrived with out-of-state money to spend.
Being an oyster aficionado I examined the offerings carefully. While quite suitable for the aforementioned tourists I judged the bivalves too small and was suspicious that they may not have been local harvest. Second choice was steamed shrimp, which proved to be an excellent decision.
My next decision, while seemingly good at the moment, eventually proved wrong. I waited at the docks for De Anne to fetch us a funnel cake to share. As is obvious (just by looking at the two of us) De Anne picked a few crumbs of funnel cake off the plate while I was forced to consume the rest in order to prevent any waste. Supper was put on indefinite hold.
On the docks watching the river traffic
Festival in high gear
Dancing children with firemen in the foreground awaiting their turn to dance in full gear.
Being an oyster aficionado I examined the offerings carefully. While quite suitable for the aforementioned tourists I judged the bivalves too small and was suspicious that they may not have been local harvest. Second choice was steamed shrimp, which proved to be an excellent decision.
My next decision, while seemingly good at the moment, eventually proved wrong. I waited at the docks for De Anne to fetch us a funnel cake to share. As is obvious (just by looking at the two of us) De Anne picked a few crumbs of funnel cake off the plate while I was forced to consume the rest in order to prevent any waste. Supper was put on indefinite hold.
On the docks watching the river traffic
Festival in high gear
Dancing children with firemen in the foreground awaiting their turn to dance in full gear.
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